Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage

Chapter 819: Well-Oiled Domain II

CH0819 Well-Oiled Domain II

***

“It is very similar to what I would have done, so yes.” Alex nodded.

Udara let out a sigh of relief.

Alex chuckled as he gently stroked her hair.

“How is the other plan progressing? I’m guessing this sudden turn of events has changed quite a few things. How did you handle it?” Alex asked.

“Yes, there have been some changes,” Udara confirmed. “However, we’ve also managed to salvage the situation.”

“Really?” Alex asked in surprise.

“Once we confirmed that the berserk beast tide had indeed subsided, I sent a team of volunteers to our target to ensure they remained unaware of the change and continued believing the tide was progressing as usual.

“According to the latest report from the team’s captain, the target is still none the wiser and is continuing with his planned course of action.” Udara reported.

“But there’s still one problem I haven’t been able to solve,” she admitted.

“Our plan hinged on diverting the berserk beasts and using them as cover for our operation. That becomes rather difficult once the beasts are gone, doesn’t it?” Alex replied with a smile.

“Yes, Master,” Udara confirmed.

Alex nodded in understanding.

He fell silent for a moment, mentally reviewing the information flowing through his network of links. A smile gradually spread across his face.

“Don’t worry. When it’s time to put the plan into motion, let me know. I should have a solution ready.”

Udara simply nodded. She didn’t ask how Alex intended to solve the problem.

If he said he would, that was enough for her.

Alex spent the next hour chatting with his wives before they reluctantly took their leave.

He still needed to rest, while they each had their own responsibilities waiting for them.

Alex was incredibly grateful to all three of his wives. Thanks to them, the domain had continued to function like a well-oiled machine even after he had been incapacitated.

That was true on both the military and civilian sides of the administration.

Such stability was vital for any successful interplanar expedition.

Neither Alex nor his wives would always be present within the domain. As their strength continued to grow, they would inevitably have to direct their attention elsewhere from time to time. There was also the possibility of a worst-case scenario.

It was deeply gratifying to Alex that, at the very least, the domain hadn’t ground to a halt. Instead, it had continued developing steadily even while he lay unconscious.

Time continued to march onwards, and three days passed in the blink of an eye.

During those three days, Alex regained his eyesight. However, the abilities of his Truth-Seeker Eyes had yet to return.

Alex had expected as much, so he wasn’t particularly concerned and simply went about his daily activities.

With his vision restored, one of the first things Alex did was board a mana carriage bound for Ashwell.

The mana carriage resembled a marriage between an aristocratic carriage and an old utility vehicle from Alex’s previous life.

The passenger cabin retained all the elegance expected of a noble’s coach, while a compact driver’s compartment projected from the front where horses would ordinarily have been harnessed.

Beneath the driver’s seat, a Mana Motor hummed quietly, silently propelling the vehicle without the need for a single beast of burden.

Essentially, it was a horseless carriage. The driver sat in a forward control compartment connected to the enclosed passenger coach at the rear.

In addition, this particular mana carriage was a premium prototype built in Ashwell exclusively for the domain lord.

Its dark-and-gold accents emphasised both its status and elegance.

The carriage could comfortably seat six passengers, featured a carefully engineered suspension system that absorbed almost every jolt and bump, and was capable of maintaining a cruising speed of up to 60 km/h.

On the surface, there were beast-drawn carriages capable of reaching similar speeds. The key difference, however, was that the mana carriage could maintain that speed throughout the entire journey without slowing due to an exhausted mount.

‘I wonder what Dread would think if he saw this?’ Alex chuckled to himself.

Fortunately, the nightmare horse and Senu had accompanied Udara on her latest covert operation.

When the carriage arrived in Ashwell Town, the people immediately erupted into cheers, quickly making way as they recognised the Skywalker Crest adorning it.

Alex waved to the townsfolk as the carriage travelled through Ashwell’s newly widened main streets before arriving at the town’s primary administrative building.

He happened to walk in on a meeting between Zora and the War Council as they discussed how best to deal with the berserk beast threat going forward.

The council members immediately rose to salute him the moment he entered.

Alex returned their salute before, to everyone’s surprise, calmly taking a seat off to one side, making it clear that he had no intention of participating and was merely there to observe the proceedings.

Not long afterwards, the meeting reached its conclusion, and the council members departed one after another to carry out their assigned duties, each saluting Alex before leaving.

Once the room was empty, Alex stood up, walked over to Zora, and pulled her into a gentle yet firm embrace.

Zora hugged him back just as tightly for a moment.

Then, in the next, she pinched him hard on both sides.

“Mercy! Mercy!!” Alex cried out pleadingly.

Blushing, Zora quickly let him go before the guards rushed in to investigate. That would have been embarrassing.

“Must you always make us worry? I specifically told you not to do anything crazy,” she scolded.

“I’m sorry, Zora.” Alex smiled apologetically.

Then his expression turned firm.

“But it had to be done.”

Zora looked into his determined eyes before letting out a sigh.

“Fine. What’s done is done. You don’t need me to become a nagging wife. Just… be careful, okay?”

“Yes.” Alex nodded.

“Looks like your vision has returned,” Zora observed.

“You sound disappointed.” Alex chuckled.

“It should have lasted a few more days so you’d learn your lesson properly.” Zora rolled her eyes. “Is everything alright now?”

“I’m getting there.” Alex shrugged. “My eyes are windows to my soul. I overextended my Spiritual Force—or, more accurately, my soul energy—during the fight against the Heavenly Tribulation. My temporary blindness was the result of that.

“My soul has recovered somewhat after sleeping for ten days, which is why my eyesight has returned. My ocular abilities still need a little more time to recover, though.”

“How did you put it before… your eyes are on ‘cooldown’?” she asked. “Is it as bad as the last time?”

“Actually, no,” Alex replied. “The reward for surviving the Heavenly Tribulation mitigated some of the side effects. My ocular abilities should return in another few days.”

“That’s good.” Zora let out a sigh of relief.

“I’m sorry, Alex. It’s because of me that—”

Thwack!

“Ah!”

Alex suddenly smacked Zora’s shapely backside, making it jiggle beneath his palm.

“Don’t overthink it. This isn’t your fault. You know me—I need very little excuse to experiment with things. Even if your situation didn’t exist, I would’ve become curious about the Wildkins’ ancestral tattoos sooner or later—given their similarities to my Rune Tattoos. We’d probably have ended up here regardless.

“If anyone deserves the blame for all of this, it’s me. Understood?” Alex said firmly.

Zora gazed into his eyes for a long moment before finally nodding.

“Fine. Understood.”

“Good.” Alex smiled. “By the way, where is the Nest Queen now?”

***